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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa
4.7.304.7.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.7.31

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 4.7.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ब्रह्मोवाच

नैतत्स्वरूपं भवतोऽसौ पदार्थ

भेदग्रहै: पुरुषो यावदीक्षेत् ।

ज्ञानस्य चार्थस्य गुणस्य चाश्रयो

मायामयाद्वय‍‌तिरिक्तो मतस्त्वम् ॥ ३१ ॥

brahmovāca

naitat svarūpaṁ bhavato ’sau padārtha-

bheda-grahaiḥ puruṣo yāvad īkṣet

jñānasya cārthasya guṇasya cāśrayo

māyāmayād vyatirikto matas tvam

Translation

Lord Brahmā said: My dear Lord, Your personality and eternal form cannot be understood by any person who is trying to know You through the different processes of acquiring knowledge. Your position is always transcendental to the material creation, whereas the empiric attempt to understand You is material, as are its objectives and instruments.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals Himself Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The Lord’s eternal form, qualities and activities cannot be understood by material senses or speculation. He is beyond the material creation.

  2. 2

    Only by devotional service can one understand the transcendental form of the Lord. Through loving service, devotees please Him, and He reveals Himself to them.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, not an ordinary person. A service attitude helps us understand His transcendental position.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that the transcendental name, qualities, activities, paraphernalia, etc., of the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be understood with our material senses.
  • One has to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead simply by the transcendental method of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • Unaware of His transcendental potencies, the impersonalists deride the person of Lord Kṛṣṇa, whereas the devotees, by dint of their service attitude, can understand Him as the Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.7.31 quotesBG 18.55

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55). Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti: only by devotional service can one understand the transcendental form of the Lord.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Humiliation and anger → Reconciliation. Relational offense leads to grief and destruction before restoration.

Chapters 1–7 of Canto 4: Dakṣa, Satī and Śiva. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: The Sacrifice Performed by Dakṣa

Lord Śiva is pacified, Dakṣa acknowledges his offense, and Lord Viṣṇu accepts the sacrifice.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahmā uvācaLord Brahmā said
  2. nanot
  3. etatthis
  4. svarūpameternal form
  5. bhavataḥYour
  6. asauthat other
  7. pada-arthaknowledge
  8. bhedadifferent
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.7

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching the Lord with a desire to serve, or only a desire to understand through speculation?

Practice

Before studying today, offer a brief prayer asking to understand Kṛṣṇa with a sincere desire to serve Him.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Reveals Himself Through Devotional ServiceThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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